Simone Origone from Italy on March 31, 2014 showed the maximum speed, according to France Ski de Vitesse. This record is 252.454 km/h. The athlete competed in the "Flying Kilometer" race for alpine skiing "speed skiing". The second place was taken by his brother Ivan (248.61 kilometers per hour). In 3rd place was Bastien Montes from France (248.15 kilometers per hour). He was able to perform, although he made a fall in training.

Origone comes from Italy, the city of Champoluc. He has 8 world cups and five prizes to his credit. He works as a ski instructor and tour guide.

In 2006, he already set a world record on the descent - 251,400 kilometers per hour. Then everyone thought that no one could surpass these figures. In 2014, Simone on the Chabrieres circuit in French Vars managed to improve this record. Who knows, maybe a little more time will pass, and an Italian or another athlete will be able to break this record as well.

The track in Var has an average gradient of 65 percent. It is almost vertical at the exit.

For athletes descending, the Flying Kilometer track on March 31, 2014 is practically Formula 1. After all, this is the fastest non-motorized sport. The numbers shown by the athletes are amazing. Formula 1 cars accelerate to 200 kilometers per hour in four seconds. Skiers reach such figures in five seconds.

Maximum speed on alpine skiing: how to achieve?

Alpine skiing sport "speed skiing" is not yet included in the program of the Winter Olympics. It is the fastest non-motorized sport on land. It is a downhill skiing on a straight mountain slope. It is noteworthy that the parachutist in free fall reaches a maximum of 190 km / h. Skiers, in turn, fly along the track with maximum speeds above 200 km / h.

track

Athletes compete on special tracks. Their length is 1 km, there are about 30 such tracks on the planet. To reduce air resistance, high mountains are chosen for such tracks.

There are three zones on the track. The first zone is given in order for the athlete to pick up speed. On average it is 400 meters. The second section is 100 meters, time is measured here. The remaining 500 meters are needed so that the athlete can slow down and stop.

Often professionals say that some time after the start (on average after forty minutes) it becomes more difficult to ride, the snow becomes looser. Lost about two or three kilometers per hour.

Equipment

The riders have special equipment made of sealed latex and helmets with aerodynamics. The suit is made of PVC fabric, it should tightly fit the body of the athlete so that there are no wrinkles. This minimizes air resistance. If the rider falls, then such equipment still gives some protection.

Skis for such races have special parameters: 240 cm in length, no more than 10 cm in width, weight no more than fifteen kg. Such skis are produced only by the manufacturer Atomik. To get great results, you need to use . Also helps a special position in the wind tunnel, which is obtained during the descent.

A helmet for high-speed races is also special. It is large enough to allow air to move freely. The absence of a zone of turbulence minimizes friction.

There are now only fifty people on the planet who are constantly engaged in high-speed races from the mountains on skis.

The history of "speed skiing": how the maximum speed increased

Downhill skiing has a rich history. The first competitions were already in 1930. The fastest record of 139 kilometers per hour was shown by Leo Gasperl from Austria. In the 1960s, athletes took to the track in Cervinia, Italy. Every year the best racers began to come here. They set more and more new records. Luigi di Marco from Italy set a record of 175 kilometers per hour, and Morishito from Japan - one hundred and eighty.

In the 1970s, interesting tracks appeared, and behind them new records. In Chile, on the Portillo track in 1978, Steve McKinney from America flew at a speed of more than 200 km / h.

In the 1980s, Les Arcs in France became the new favorite destination for racing drivers. Here and on the Var circuit many times the world indicators have been beaten. Now the record for men is set, as we wrote above, by Simone Origone, and for women - by Swede Sanne Tierstrand. Its maximum speed is 242.590 kilometers per hour.

In 1992, in the French Les Arcs, speed skiing performances were shown during the Albertville Olympics. But so far this discipline has not been included in the official program of these significant competitions. Perhaps in the future "speed skiing" will be perceived by the general public as a fairly familiar sport, such as hockey.

In downhill competitions, the theoretical speed limit is the record speeds set on specially prepared straight slopes. Until recently, the slope of the mountain in Cervinia (Italy) was considered the most famous, similar to the landing of a giant springboard with the greatest steepness of 60% (31 °). There, at an altitude of 3500 meters above sea level, in July days the firn cover of snow is the most favorable for sliding. The result is determined on a segment 100 meters long. Without going into detail about the history of setting records, I can only say that the first record was recorded in 1930. It was equal to 105.675 km / h. It happened in St. Moritz. Today, this speed is sometimes less than the average speed shown on ordinary downhill courses in World Cup competitions, world championships or the Olympics.

It took almost 50 years to overcome the milestone of 200 kilometers. It happened in 1975. The American Makkinan became the author of the record - 200.111 km / h. And in March 1984, in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, starting at an altitude of 4333 meters, the Austrian Franz Weber overcame the control segment at a speed of 203.155 km / h.

There are not so many athletes in the world who are fond of high-speed races - a few dozen. They have their own specifics, and few of the ski elite take part in setting records. However, there is a certain benefit for any skier to "blow out", as if in a wind tunnel, at a speed close to at least 150 km / h. Having felt it, the athlete behaves much more confidently on ordinary downhill courses, and even more so on giant slalom and slalom. For children, the mountain of landing of any springboard, and even more so a sports 70- and 90-meter one, is an excellent “simulator” in organizing classes in direct downhill skiing.

It is difficult to enumerate all the qualities that an athlete who decides to succeed in downhill should have. These, in particular, include: a subtle sense of balance and softness in the performance of all movements; lightning-fast reaction to sudden changes in the situation; the absence of a sense of fear that paralyzes the athlete, and at the same time a sober assessment of the situation, taking into account the degree of risk; freedom of choice techniques and perfect possession of them; courage, supported by high physical development and will; balance of character. And in technical terms, the main thing is the ability to slide, without which it is impossible to achieve high results (Fig. 96).

Rice. 96. The basic downhill stance requires well developed hip, back and neck muscles. The back is rounded, the torso is parallel to the skis, the head is raised for a better view. Skis are divorced to the width of the pelvis

Downhill skiers, like all athletes, differ from each other in the above qualities, but the strongest among them are in many ways similar to each other. They are distinguished by an athletic build, fairly tall, at the same time they are mobile and agile, like lightweights. To win high positions in this sport requires a long, systematic training, a large amount of descents on different tracks, calculated in thousands of kilometers, at high intensity. Success depends largely on the athlete himself - how much he can develop tactical thinking in himself.

On modern downhill tracks, there are fewer natural obstacles, the tracks are widened, smoothed out, the turns indicated by the control gates are better verified. The shortest route on them is not always the fastest. To choose a path that allows you to cover the entire track in the shortest time, the rules of the competition provide for official training sessions organized by the panel of judges.

There is no need to talk about deliberate ski braking on such downhill tracks. Speed ​​control is carried out partly by changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the skier's stance, partly by the choice of path and the nature of ski sliding in turns. The skier's stance plays a big role. But the ability to ski, achieving the best glide, remains his main concern. Neither the sudden increase in pressure due to inflexible footwork, nor the incorrect position of the body on bumps and broken areas, nor the excessive edge of the skis should interfere with good glide. No matter how broken the track, a good skier should always feel the interaction of skis with snow and feel confident while remaining the master of the situation. A sufficient supply of strength will allow him to "not stiffen" in one position, be flexible and adapt to changing terrain conditions (Fig. 97 and 98).

Rice. 97. They try to maintain a good aerodynamic stance in turns, even when sliding on one external ski

Rice. 98. It is not uncommon for turns on hard sport trails to be choppy when the skis lose grip on the snow. The inner stick acts as an additional support

Quick assessment of the situation and maintaining a low stance without excessive muscle tension are achieved by training on tracks, the complexity of which must always correspond to the level of the athlete's training. The principle of gradualness comes to the fore here in order to avoid mental trauma, not to mention physical.

Taking into account the increased speeds in downhill competitions (for men, average speeds in the range of 100-110 km / h have become common, for women - 90-100 km / h), the requirements for the quality of snow preparation and the installation of safety barriers have increased accordingly. The equipped track looks like an ice stadium with seats for spectators behind the fence. Competitions are getting more and more expensive. Therefore, it is so important that they be carried out on tracks with parameters and slope profiles corresponding to modern requirements where athletes can demonstrate real skill and courage.

There are not so many tracks in the world that meet high requirements. One of them is the men's track in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany). It hosted the World Championship-78 and annually hosts one of the stages of the World Cup. Its width in some places reaches 14 and even up to 9 meters. But the athlete goes straight there, and in the event of a fall, nothing threatens him. The most extended sections, where there are control gates for turns, reach 50 meters. The length of the entire track is 3320 meters with a height difference from 1700 meters at the start to 780 meters at the finish. During the World Cup, there were 32 gates on it. Such a track can be considered a classic. The men's downhill course in Sarajevo, on Mount Belashnitsa, can also be attributed to the category of the best. Its parameters are: length 3070 meters, drop 803 meters, average slope 16°.

Especially for the World Cup-85 in the Italian highland town of Bormio, a new 3-kilometer downhill track was built with fifteen turns and seven sections on which the athletes were forced to fly. The presence of many high-speed turns and bumps indicates a revival of the tendency to choose slopes with complex profiles, which is why they began to retreat due to increased speeds.

Unfortunately, I am not able to give the characteristics of any of our tracks that meet international standards - they simply do not exist. Even the oldest track on Chimbulak near Alma-Ata has not yet been fully profiled and is not equipped with protective fences.

The placement of the control gates on the downhill track is the most crucial moment. Their width is 8-12 meters. They are set open. The most experienced specialists who have an idea of ​​modern technology and the capabilities of athletes and foresee the dangers that lie in wait for them are involved in setting the gates. Particular attention is paid to fencing the outer side of the turns - when an athlete falls, he is carried out tangentially to the arc. We do not accidentally draw attention to this, since the facts recent years testify to the trouble we have in this matter.

As for the technique of descending at high speeds, here the profile of the slope is decisive in choosing a stand. When descending a flat slope, the problem of stability is solved quite simply - the basic, low downhill stance, developed by athletes and tested over decades, allows you to maintain good balance at any speed (see Fig. 96). Legs bent at the knees and an inclined torso with curved ski poles pressed against it with parallel skiing at a distance of 30-40 cm (depending on the structure of the body) - such a stance with good review The route makes it possible to save energy, and most importantly, to descend with minimal air resistance.

When entering a finely undulating area, the legs are somewhat unbent while maintaining a strong torso inclination - this allows the legs to absorb bumps with less fatigue and with a slight deterioration in aerodynamics. Skis at the same time retain traction with the snow, although sometimes they vibrate a lot.

On sections with sharp changes in the profile, the skier at high speed somehow loses contact with the slope and makes flights. And if, when learning to overcome irregularities in slalom, the main attention was paid to various shock-absorbing techniques, then at high speeds, if it is necessary to pair the trajectories of the body's center of gravity with the slope profile, the skier is forced to use the technique of advanced jumps. Most of them are performed in a group (Fig. 99). But circumstances do not always allow one to smoothly fit into the profile of the mountain, and the athlete, in order to avoid a blow when landing in flight, straightens up in order to then bend and absorb the blow (Fig. 100). most gross mistake in all cases there will be a flight with legs extended forward - when landing, a fall on the back is guaranteed. On fig. 101 shows what needs to be done to avoid this (for example, try to keep the support at least with the heel of the ski).

Rice. 99. Different Ways to Cope with Recessions:
a - by extension-flexion without loss of contact with the slope; b - flight over the recession; in - advancing jump

Rice. 100. Over a short steep drop with a sharp rollout in flight, it is advisable to straighten up and soften the landing by bending

Rice. 101. In order to avoid warping and falling on his back, the skier found support with the back of the ski

Rice. 102. One of the typical positions of grouping in flight

Flight measurements show that sometimes they reach 20 meters or more. They lead to falls only when they are done ineptly and against the will of the athlete. In the same cases, when the athlete is prepared for the flight and actively performs it himself, good stability during landing is guaranteed.

On fig. 102 shows a typical position of the constellation in flight - all conditions have been created to increase the inclination by the time of landing on the steep part of the decline. But not always everything can be done until the moment of takeoff, and the athlete must remember that in flight all the rotations that were available at that moment will continue. To reduce their harmful effects, he must arbitrarily change his position in the air in order to increase or, conversely, decrease the moment of inertia of the body relative to the corresponding axis of rotation. On fig. 103 reproduced one of these episodes, when the skier, in order to reduce rotation around the longitudinal axis, spread his arms and legs as wide as possible.

Rice. 103. In a critical situation, in order to avoid falling, the athlete made a complete ungrouping and a stick injection.

Landing he carries out on the right, in this case, the inner ski, which will be under the center of gravity of the body.

Such situations are not rare. Franz Klammer was distinguished from other athletes by his "cat" ability to land on his feet in the most difficult situations.

The ability to manipulate various parts of the body in flight is developed by special exercises. It is good if there are various profiles in the area of ​​training slopes. If they do not exist, they are created artificially. On fig. 104, 105, 106 shows a series of exercises performed on various profiles. Exercises can be performed both in the classic version on narrow-set skis, and in various options: in grouping, with straightening of the body, with raising arms with sticks up, as well as with opposite work of arms and legs. One of the popular exercises is flying with legs and arms apart.

Rice. 104. Training profiles for learning takeoff, rotation in flight and determining the allowable acceleration speed


Rice. 105. Training profile for learning to fly in a tuck with a lead push depending on the acceleration speed


Rice. 106. Training profile for learning landing accuracy

Flying in the turn phase is a very difficult element of downhill skiing. Mastering it will help practicing exercises on a hillock with a turn at high speed. The athlete must know and remember that when the skis come off the snow in the turn phase, all types of body rotation are preserved, and the translational movement in a straight line (!) Continues in one vertical plane tangent to the arc at the separation point. I emphasize this especially because I observed the most severe injuries in athletes who “forgot” about this law of mechanics and believed that they were “flying in an arc”.

The most difficult is the turn, during which the athlete makes several forced flights. In this case, one should not lose self-control and find support as early as possible with at least one ski, be it external or internal.

We do not introduce a special section devoted to the analysis of the technique of the super-G, since it differs from the downhill only in that it does not have straight sections, and the track is marked with gates 8-10 meters wide so that the athlete has to slide almost all the time along arcs of small curvature with at a speed of about 80-90 km / h with a flat-cut ski glide - the same as in downhill skiing.

/ Skier speed

Skier speed

Skiing is skiing down a steep mountain. Athletes-skiers involved in it account for the most injuries. Therefore, skiing is rightfully one of the extreme sports.

Skis for alpine skiing have a special structure. They are much longer and narrower than conventional skis. The rear boot is fixed with a tension mount, the toe is clamped into an iron bracket. To evenly distribute the weight of a person over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skis, smooth deflections (weight deflections) are made. To maintain balance while moving, a special groove passes through the center of each ski.

In order to increase the strength of the ski, it is made from a combination of several layers of wood. different breed- ash, beech, birch or hickory. For better traction with snow, the edges of the skis are edged with dense types of wood (oak) and thin sheets of iron. Special high and hard plastic boots are attached to the skis.

Among the ways to perform a descent from the mountain, there are:

"telemark" - when one of the legs is strongly bent and advanced forward. She plays the role of "rudder". The other leg rests with the toe and knee on the ski. Hands are widely spaced, keep balance. At high speed, the method is unreliable.

"Christianity" - during the descent, the athlete squats strongly to the side, while one of his hands slides through the snow, performing the function of a "rudder".

This technique allowed athletes to develop high speeds during the descent, reaching 150 - 200 kilometers per hour. Currently, the speed record belongs to the French athlete Philippe Guatchel. He managed to reach a record speed of 250.7 kilometers per hour.

/ Skier speed

Ivan Oregon set the speed record for alpine skiing - now it is 254.958 km / h. A new record was set on the alpine slopes of the French resort of Vars.

The influence of winter is still very strongly felt in the northern hemisphere, especially in its mountainous regions, where the ski season is still in full swing. And while some skiers are happy to make leisurely runs, others, quickly descending the slopes, are pleased to feel the frosty wind blowing over their flushed face.

So the Italian downhill skier Ivan Oregon, in company with his brother Simon and Frenchman Billy Simon, took their equipment and went to try their luck on the slopes of Vars. And all three managed to overcome the speed threshold of 250 km / h (155.37 miles per hour). But the first of them was Ivan, who established the world.

Watching Ivan Oregon take off on the mountainside, it seems that it is not difficult at all. However, watching a video taken from a helicopter convinces otherwise. The sight of a very steep descent involuntarily makes one shudder. As it became known, the steepness of the downward slope allows you to achieve insane acceleration comparable to that which develops.

It took Ivan just five and a half seconds to develop speed from 0 to 200 km / h (124.3 miles per hour). But the athlete, unlike the F1 pilots, securely fixed in their places, is open to the wind and snow rushing towards them. At the same time, he should try to stand on his feet, being in a position that provides the best.

Skiing- one of the types of skiing. It is a descent from the mountains to special devices(skiing) on ​​pre-prepared tracks. Extremely popular as one of the species active rest, especially in winter time. There are such disciplines of skiing:

Downhill(English downhill - "down the hill") - the passage of a specially prepared route (which is laid along the natural terrain of the slope, and provides for passing through the guide gates, overcoming springboards, turns, mounds, ridges, etc.) in the shortest possible time . The track is marked on both sides with colored lines on the snow or bright flags, it has guide gates - double poles with red and red flags. of blue color rectangular shape. Athletes in some cases can reach speeds of up to 140 km / h, the flight length when jumping can be from 40 to 50 m. This kind of skiing is included in the program of the Winter Olympic Games.

Slalom (from the Norwegian "descending trail") - the fastest skiing downhill, in which the athlete must pass through all the gates (if the skier missed the gate or crossed them with only one ski, he is eliminated from the number of competitors). The length of the track is from 450 to 500 m, the height difference between the start and finish points is from 60 to 150 m; the width of the gates installed on the track is from 3.5 to 4 m, the distance between them can vary from 0.7 to 15 meters. Skiers reach speeds of up to 40 km / h, when summing up, the results shown by athletes during descents along two different tracks are taken into account. Since 1931, slalom and downhill for men and women have been included in the program of the Alpine Skiing World Championships.

Giant Slalom (Giant Slalom) and Super G- downhill skiing is carried out in compliance with the rules of slalom. The difference is that the length of the track is from 800 to 2000 m, the height difference between the start and finish is 200-500 m, the width of the gates installed on the track is 8 meters. Overcoming the distance, skiers can reach speeds of up to 65 km / h, when summing up the final results, the results of two descents (for male athletes) or one (for women) are taken into account.

Mogul (from the word mugl, which in the Viennese dialect German language meaning "small hill") - one of the types of freestyle skiing - descending from a rather steep hilly slope and jumping on ski jumps. Hillocks (moguls) on the slopes are formed when skiers perform small-radius turns (most often on tracks that cannot be leveled due to steepness, obstacles, small width, etc.) or are specially built using technical means (for example, snowcat) for competitions. Mogul has been included in the program of the Winter Olympic Games since 1988.

Ski acrobatics- the ancestor of freestyle skiing - performing tricks on skis. olympic view sport since 1994.

New School (from the English new school "new school") is one of the freestyle trends that emerged in the late 90s of the last century. By style this species skiing resembles snowboarding, and, unlike freestyle, is free from the limitations of the complexity of the elements performed. At first, representatives of this direction rode exclusively in snowboard parks, later they moved to specially prepared tracks and even to city streets (riding along railings, boxes, walls (volrides, from the English wall - "wall" and rclasse - "ride") and rails ( from English rails - "railing, fence").

Nowadays, New School is divided into the following subspecies:

Halfpipe (English half-pipe - "drainage chute") - riding in a U-shaped half-pipe;

Bigair (from the English big-air - "big air") - the athlete accelerates and makes a springboard jump, while performing various tricks. The flight length is from 5 to 30 m;

Slopestyle (from the English slope - "slope, mountain for skiing" and style - "style") - a competition consisting in the virtuoso performance of jumps and acrobatic tricks on a specially equipped track (jumps, pyramids, railings, counter-slopes, etc. .);

Ski-cross (from the English. ski - "ski" and cross - "cross") - a ski race on a specially equipped track (jumps, waves, turns, etc.). At the first stage of the competition (qualification), skiers go through the track one by one. In accordance with the results shown, they are distributed in groups of 4 people to participate in the final race, held according to the Olympic scheme (with a knockout);

Speed ​​skiing (from the English. speed - "speed" and ski - "ski") - skiing competitions on a straight, well-prepared track. The goal is to go the distance with maximum speed. Features of the equipment - lead plates are placed on the toes of the skis, handles are installed in front of the mounts, which make it easy to maintain a deep squat position, an inflatable fairing is fixed on the athlete's shoulders. The maximum speed developed by a skier with this type of descent was registered in 1999 - 248.105 km / h. This achievement belongs to an athlete from Austria Harry Egger.

Telemark (from the English Telemark - "turn with a lunge on skis") is a type of skiing that originated in the province of Telemark (Norway) thanks to the efforts of Sondre Norheim (Aversen), who managed to systematize the knowledge and techniques of descent from the mountains. Telemark equipment, in addition to traditional skis with telescopic poles, includes a special pole (lurg).

Freeride (from the English free rclasse - "free ride") - a descent carried out on skis outside of prepared tracks (best of all on untouched snow). The main dangers of this type of skiing are the danger of avalanches and the difficulty in providing medical care in case of injury. Therefore, a freerider athlete must not only be well prepared physically, but also appropriately equipped, familiar with the rules of behavior on a mountain slope. In some cases, the services of an experienced guide are required.

Types of skiing:

Lightweight freeride- Athletes climb the mountain on lifts, after which they descend on untouched snow;

Backcountry (from the English back country - "remote area") - descent on virgin snow, which is preceded by climbing mountains that are not equipped with a lift;

Ski-tour (from the English ski - "ski", tour - "travel, hike") - a hike that involves periodic climbing mountains and descending virgin snow on special lightweight skis;

Heli-skiing (from the English heli - "helicopter" and ski - "skis") or heliboarding (from the English heli - "helicopter" and board - "board") - skiers are thrown to the top of the mountain by helicopter. In some places, this type of freeride is prohibited;

snowmotoboarding- skiing on snow using a snowmobile (motorcycle) as a draft force (the principle of water skiing).

There are also such styles of skiing:

Tourist skating(Allround - English "universal", Recreation - English "rest, recuperation, entertainment") - is not divided into levels, is not characterized by clearly defined techniques. Most often, people who choose this style of skiing do not strive to achieve sports results, but simply try to get the maximum benefit and pleasure from the very process of skiing down a sparkling white snowy slope;

Freeride - skiing off the prepared tracks. There are two areas of freeride: freeride itself, which involves riding in any conditions (on soft and hard snow, ice, stones, etc.) and "powder" (from the English powder - "powder") - descent through deep fluffy snow. Sometimes, during the descent, freeriders not only jump from various kinds of hills, using them as springboards, but also perform various acrobatic stunts;

Fancarving or extreme carving(from the English. carving - "cut") - descent from the mountain on special carving skis, which includes sharp turns (not only to the sides, but also in a circle). Differences in technique - strictly carved turns, wide skiing with a deep inclination into the turn, refusal to use ski poles.

New School freestyle, "new school" freestyle, modern freestyle- riding, involving the performance of various kinds of tricks, ski jumping, riding in the gutter (halfpipe), riding on rails and rails.

Alpine skiing is the most traumatic sport, especially for children. No, in children's alpine skiing, injuries are extremely rare, since experienced coaches correctly select equipment, and young athletes go down the slope one at a time (which eliminates the potential for a collision with another skier). At a higher level, older athletes do have injuries. There are several reasons: incorrectly selected and adjusted ski bindings (after all, most often amateurs do this on their own, considering themselves competent enough, the result is dislocations and fractures after falls); reassessment of one's strengths; poor organization of traffic on the slope, as a result of which the skaters collide at full speed. That is why both beginners and professionals are obliged to follow the FIS rules: to be attentive to other skiers; control the speed and method of descent, as well as correctly choose the trajectory of movement; avoid stops in poorly visible bottlenecks, pay attention to signs. At the same time, according to statistics, skiing is much less traumatic than, for example, hockey or football.

Slalom originated in Norway. Indeed, downhill skiing has been extremely popular in Norway since ancient times - for a long time, local residents competed among themselves in the skill of downhill from the mountains in Hopmenkollen near Christiania (now the city of Oslo). At the competitions that were held in 1767, 4 prizes were raffled among skiers, who were given the task of walking along a slope overgrown with bushes and trees, trying not to fall and break their skis. Another 6 prizes were fought by daredevils descending from a steep slope without the help of ski poles. In those days, there was no distinction between skiing and alpine skiing - the technique of alpine skiing began to take shape a little later, in the Norwegian province of Telemark. In 1875, the world's first ski club was founded in the same Norwegian Christiania, and in 1877 a ski school was opened at the club. In 1879, the first alpine skiing competition was held on Mount Goosby near Christiania. However, some experts believe that the founders of skiing were the inhabitants of Austria - after all, it was in the Alps that official competitions in this sports discipline began to be held since 1905.

Freestyle skiing appeared at the beginning of the last century. Indeed, 1930 is considered to be the birth date of this type of skiing - it was then that Norwegian skiers began to include acrobatic tricks in their training programs for cross-country and alpine skiing. However, some researchers insist that the first acrobatic ski jump was made as early as 1860. To this we can add that Stein Erickson developed ski acrobatics in the 50s of the last century, and freestyle competitions, as an alternative to traditional ski disciplines, began to be held in the early 60s. In the 60s and 70s, freestyle skiing (originally called "hot dogging") continued to develop, and soon three modern trends- mogul, ski acrobatics and ski ballet.

First, a new style of riding appeared - carving, and then - the corresponding equipment. This is wrong. At first, skis with a new (carving) geometry were created, and only a little later people appeared who tried to use all the possibilities of a new model of a special shape, sometimes equipped with lifter plates that allow you to raise the boot 8-10 cm above the snow surface, which is ideal for extreme skiing. carving.

Ski equipment is extremely expensive. Of course, professional athletes spend quite impressive amounts on equipment. And for a beginner skier, it is enough to buy a strong helmet, high-quality ski boots (maximum 100 €) and comfortable warm clothes. Skis, poles, bindings, etc. at first, you don’t have to buy - all this is provided in sports schools and sections. Over time, having gained experience, you can also purchase your own inventory, the cost of which is about 250 €, and if the kit is used, then you can meet 50 €.

It is best to start skiing at the age of 11-12. There are no age restrictions in this sport. You can start at 4-6, and at 11-12, and at 14-15 years old. Yes, and retirement age is by no means a hindrance to skiing.

Alpine skiing can only be practiced by healthy people with great physical strength and endurance. Of course, when it comes to extreme skiing, you can’t do without good preparation. And for mastering the basics of this sport, physical data is not important (in some cases, people with almost completely atrophied muscles got up on skis, of a rather respectable age - and achieved considerable success) - intelligence is much more important. In ski schools, as a rule, everyone is accepted, and it depends only on the person himself how far he will advance in mastering all the intricacies of this sport.

Alpine skiing is an occupation for the rich. On the contrary, it is one of the most democratic sports. In many ski schools and sections, training is free or not so expensive (although in some "promoted" places the prices are really exorbitant), and all students get to summer camps in the mountains, regardless of the thickness of their parents' wallets. True, official sports schools are not always conveniently located, but a sparing class schedule allows you to put up with this problem. The only negative is for riding all year round, you really should have a fairly large amount of money. If there is none, you have to get used to seasonal breaks in training.

Sports skis are considered the most prestigious. Of the variety of sports skis (skis for slalom, giant slalom, super-g, downhill, freestyle), skis for giant slalom are suitable for amateurs, although with appropriate training, skiers who prefer high speeds and are not afraid of hard slopes can use slalom skis and skis for the mogul (descent along the hillocks). At the same time, it should be remembered that sports skis are designed, as a rule, for high speeds, icy slopes, therefore skiing on them will not bring pleasure to a non-professional. The easiest way is to purchase universal skis that have all the attributes of sports in the design (for example, the inscriptions competition, equip, racing, etc.). Products of this kind are easily controlled, allow you to develop a fairly decent speed during the descent and, at the same time, serve as a means of satisfying the owner's ambitions.

Tourist skis are suitable for amateur skiers and beginners. This is true, but it should be noted that this type of sports equipment is divided into several groups:

skis for children and juniors - they are distinguished by high controllability at low speeds and ease of making turns;

skis for advanced skiers are designed specifically for aggressive skiers whose goal is self-improvement in this sport;

skis "expert" are suitable for descent on various slopes with different conditions of snow cover. They are highly obedient, stable in turns, and are designed for fairly experienced skiers;

skis for amateur athletes and skis for descents on bumpy tracks are characterized by good handling (even on hard snow) and less sensitivity to technical errors compared to sports models. However, on icy slopes, at high speeds, such skis perform worse than sports ones;

special types of alpine skiing - specially designed maximally lightweight products for ski trips (ski-tour), for extreme descents on steep slopes (extreme ski), for descents on virgin slopes and for telemark equipment.

When choosing skis, you need to take into account the length, stiffness and product specification, other parameters do not matter. This is not entirely true. To avoid some annoying misunderstandings in the future, in addition to the above parameters, you should pay attention to the sidecut radius, which is most suitable for your chosen riding method.

For radical carving, it is best to purchase skis with a minimum sidecut (preferably about 10 m), the ideal choice is craw slalom, radical carving or softer models, the geometry of which is generally consistent with special slalom skis. Ski poles are almost not needed in this sport, but gloves with a Kevlar reinforced palm are very useful;

For ski cross, slalom, giant slalom, you should opt for a product with a sidecut radius of at least 15 meters (unless, of course, you set yourself the goal of passing slalom turns at maximum speed - in this case you will have to use skis with a radius of 10-12 m). And in order to achieve the width and smoothness of the outline of the arcs, you need to buy a model with a radius of 16-18 m. It’s good, of course, to purchase the latest, improved model, but keep in mind that such skis are extremely demanding on the track and in order to ride them, you should have quite high level of skill;

If your choice is a snowpark or New School, when buying skis, give preference to models with curved heels and a minimum own radius. However, it should be noted that the smaller the radius, the more difficult it is to land after the jump;

For universal skiing on broken, uncivilized slopes (freestyle) outside specially laid trails, freeride skis and universal models for carving are best suited (for example, allmountain - from English "skis for the whole mountain"). The radius of the side cutout of the model should not exceed 20 m, so that when moving to a prepared slope you do not have to change skis;

Mogul skis are preferable (but by no means necessary) with a fairly soft toe, an average level of rigidity, narrow, with a sidecut radius of 20 to 25 m.

It is best to give preference to shorter skis at the beginning of training. Not necessary. When choosing skis, in addition to the level of training of the skier (beginner, intermediate, athlete), his build and physique (strong and stocky or thin and tall), age, gender, and also intentions are taken into account. For example, short skis (mini) are best suited for evolutive (sequential) training, involving frequent ski changes from 100-135 cm to 160 cm.

Compact skis (compact), whose length is from 150 to 190 cm, are highly maneuverable even in deep snow, have a narrow waist that gives many advantages in turns, and therefore are ideal for mastering incised gliding. In addition, it should be noted that the shortest skis are the most controllable, but when descending a hard icy slope at high speeds, longer skis are preferred.

When choosing the length of skis, be sure to take into account the manufacturer's recommendations. In accordance with the nomogram, you can easily determine the length of the product you need by simply drawing a line through the indicators corresponding to your height and weight. At the same time, an adjustment should be made for the level of preparedness (a novice skier should opt for a product located one line below, an experienced and aggressive skier - one line above the parameters obtained) and gender (skis located two lines below those indicated in the nomogram are suitable for women for their growth and build).

The most expensive skis are sports. Most often this is true. However, sometimes the price of tourist skis of the "expert" class, which are created using the latest achievements in the production technology of this type of sports equipment, can be higher.

For the first steps in mastering freeride, specialized “entry-level” skis are suitable. This is not entirely true. The success of the freeride development process largely depends on the quality of the equipment used. And high-quality equipment for this type of skiing, in particular, junior freeride models, is not suitable for both training and ordinary skiing on prepared slopes. Because on early stages you should opt for skis of the freeride-freestyle category (FR / FS), which are quite suitable for mastering the art of skiing off-piste, as well as for simple skiing. Moreover, it is recommended to choose skis of a smaller size than indicated in the nomogram for your physical parameters - it will be easier for a beginner to cope with them.

The rigidity of the skis is the same along the entire length of the product. In fact, the stiffness is distributed along the length of the ski in different ways, depending on the type and purpose of sports equipment. For example, in slalom and sport skis, the central part (skate) is softer than in giant slalom skis. And for tourist skis, the central part is stiffer, and the toe and heel are softer than sports skis. Such design features are due to the specifics of the slopes on which certain skis will be used (say, tourist skis are designed for skiing on softer snow cover, sports skis are designed to slide on a harder, well-packed surface of a specially prepared track). And the softer heel and toe of snowpark skis are designed to make landing after a jump as comfortable as possible.

It is difficult for an inexperienced skier to determine the quality of skis and choose the right product stiffness. Indeed, at first it is best to contact an experienced instructor in a section, a ski club or a tourist base. But there are ways to check the quality of the product, and even a novice athlete must know about them. Firstly, the skis must be smooth, not deformed. If, with a sharp squeeze of skis placed against each other by sliding surfaces, a dull sound is heard, this is a product of good quality. The softness of skis is also easy to check. To do this, put them vertically sliding surfaces to each other and try to squeeze the skis in the central part with the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Usually, with normal rigidity, such an effort is sufficient for contact between products. However, it should be remembered that in this way it is impossible to determine the distribution of stiffness along the length of the ski, and it is this factor that affects their maneuverability. For example, soft skis (especially those equipped with a soft toe) are more maneuverable, while stiffer ones are just a godsend for an energetic skier.

Experienced athletes feel even a slight difference in ski construction. It really is. Determined that good specialist it is quite capable of feeling even such changes as 5% stiffness, 2% length and 4% width of the product. Indeed, with a decrease in the length of the ski by 10 cm, its weight decreases by almost 130 grams, the width decreases by 1 mm, and the rigidity increases by 3%. However, even novice skiers can feel the difference between high-quality and mediocre products.

All skis are bent only in front. No, there are twin tip licks (eng. twin tip - "two ends"), which are reminiscent of a snowboard in design and curved both in front and behind. This design feature allows you to slide both face and back forward. Most often, the twin type is used in mogul and some varieties of freestyle.

Buying the most expensive skis is the key to success in mastering the skills and abilities of skiing. This is wrong. For money, you can buy good equipment and hire a professional trainer, but knowledge, skills and abilities come in the process of practical training, and for quite a long time.

You can ski in any clothing, as long as it is comfortable and warm. At the initial stages of training, you can really dress as you like. However, later, when the increased level of skill will allow you to devote quite a long time to skiing, you should make sure that such classes take place in the most comfortable conditions, which directly depends on correct selection equipment. For example, cotton underwear absorbs sweat well, as a result of which it remains damp for a long time. This leads not only to discomfort, but also to hypothermia. But underwear made from synthetic fabrics (Polartec, polyester) has less hygroscopicity, therefore, it is more suitable for skiers and snowboarders. When choosing socks, it is also best to give preference to products made of polyamide, polypropylene, polyacrylic, or a combination of wool and elastane (lycra). In addition to the above items of equipment, you should purchase a warm fleece jacket, and when buying a suit, make sure that the lining is made of WindBloсk or WindStop class material - in this case, you will be reliably protected from the cold wind.

Skiing in the Alps is very expensive, so you should give preference to the ski resorts of the Caucasus. Indeed, a visit to Dombay will cost you about half the price of an equivalent trip to the Alps. However, consider the difference in service. After all, any skier, whether professional or amateur, goes to the mountains, by and large, for one thing - to ride. Therefore, accommodation and skiing time should be paid. How is it at different ski resorts? At the alpine resorts, the athlete's time will be distributed approximately as follows: 10% - standing in line, 45% - climbing the slope, 45% - descending. And in the Caucasus, because of the huge queues for the lift, the time is distributed as follows: standing in line - 30 minutes (i.e. 60%), ascent - 10 minutes (20%), descent - 10 minutes (20%). From the foregoing, we conclude: in the Alps, the time of pure skiing is almost twice that in the ski resorts of the Caucasus. To this it is also worth adding a variety of alpine trails and a highly organized service for children, which, alas, cannot yet boast of domestic resorts.

Staying at a ski resort, you need to start skiing from the very first day. This is wrong. Keep in mind that the air is thinner in the mountains, so you should wait at least one day, giving the body the opportunity to adapt to the lack of oxygen. In addition, be sure to arrange days of rest for yourself, devoting them to excursions or visiting wellness treatments.

If you regularly visit the gym or fitness club, you will not feel discomfort at the ski resort - after all, the muscles are thoroughly prepared for the expected loads. Unfortunately, it is not. The fact is that when playing sports, some muscle groups are trained, and when a person gets on skis (snowboard), others, most often not very trained muscles, are included in the work. Therefore, on the second day after skating, body pains are observed in many novice athletes. To minimize the aforementioned pain effect, you should ride no more than 60 minutes on the first day, extending the time spent on the slope by 30-50 minutes on subsequent days. If the pain still occurs, some medications will help. For example, "AE-vit", which neutralizes substances that cause muscle pain. Also a visit to the sauna or taking hot bath With sea ​​salt, followed by rubbing the body and applying an anti-inflammatory ointment to the skin ("Finalgon", "Fastum-gel", etc.). The above methods will help eliminate pain in the muscles in a maximum of 2 days.

Those who do not know how to ski do not need to go to the mountains. Like any other ski resort, in addition to skiing, it provides vacationers with a fairly wide range of additional services: ice skating and sledding, horseback riding and hiking, spa treatments, etc. In addition, a few days of being outdoors, among the picturesque nature, will help you improve your health, get rid of stress, forget about worries and everyday problems, and harmonize your daily routine.